Sheep Gets Promoted to Shepherd

So here's an interesting thought for the day.  Strange things run around in my head regularly, so indulge me for a moment. 

What happens when a lowly, simple sheep is promoted to shepherd?  Is there anarchy in the world of sheep-dom?  Does the sheep have second thoughts, or insecurities or fears?  And although this is a fictitious thought, it is a very real reality in my life.

I have been a disciple of my Lord and Savior for, well too many years to state here - but basically my whole life.  I have followed in His footsteps and have learned to hear His voice.  And now, here I am being asked to stop being just a sheep - but to become a shepherd as well.

Now who better to lead other sheep than a sheep itself?  I mean, it knows how they think, act, feel and behave.  It knows what makes them afraid and causes them to run, and can help them to overcome all those things. Right????  But at the same time, just because that sheep has been asked to wear a new identity, doesn't mean that it "loses" the old one in its entirety.  It really is just a sheep in shepherd's clothing.  But then again we have been told..."It's not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you."

So even though this seems so natural and fluid to me - watching anyone else who received the calling to be a shepherd at an early age - like maybe they didn't have to really be a sheep first, they stepped right into the role of shepherd without missing a beat.  But doing this at my age, after years and years of being a sheep - well, it just seems downright crazy.  I know God is calling.  I know He equips the called.  I even know that I am good at it.  But learning to shed the old identity and only measure myself by my heavenly shepherd's standards and not the standards I have set for myself by watching the other shepherds around me - well, that is a little bit more difficult. 

So again I guess it comes down to "It's not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you."

So this sheep will one day become a shepherd because I choose to do what I hear MY shepherd calling me to do. Stay tuned for updates as this is a process that I am still walking out :)  But knowing the Voice and doing what He says is most of the battle.